Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-26
TELEPHONE BURGLARY.

ringing. instantly applying the lnstru-
ment to his ear, and calling " Hello ~ he
heard some one voice family back:
Hello Is that Mr. Bradley2n
Yes" he replied. WHO are you?o
Is it Mr.. Henry A. Bradley Of Cotton
HIP
Yes, sir, that is my name and resi-
denee. Who are your
You must not be surprised, Mr.. Brad
ley, but am burglar in your house on
Cotton Hill"
What on the living earth dovou mean?'
just what l say-a burglar in your
house on Cotton Hill, and talking with
sarily excited by this information. but try
to compose yourself" the sqaeaking voice
went on.
" Great heavens Compose myself You
infamous scoundrel, what are you doing in
my house?''
Precisely what l have said, Mr. Brad
ley. I am a professional burglar-I really
hope you will take this quietly. It will be
to your advantage, you know I viii show
you that"
shall take it quietly, you poor sinner,
by starting a squad of police up the hill
after you in less than ten minutes. Say
your prayers for strong legs, for you will
need them more than you ever did before 5"
- You cannot do it, sir Listen to me
and I will show you that l know all about
the situation. in the first place, your
house is the only one on this hill, except
Mr.. Boyd's, Immediately across the street,
and he is away in the country for the sum-
mer. In the second place, the nearest in
habited house is hall a mile distant, at the
foot Of the hill, and the nearest telephone,
except the one in your neighbor Boyd's, is
at Winchester, five miles of off. Now,
know you might ring up the Winchester
telephone, but it is long way off and be-
sides, there is no squad of policemen there.
l should not wonder if the towns single
guardian were asleep somewhere in a cor
ner. Don't you see that know all about
the place. and that you had better be per-
suaded to take it quietly?"
What in the deuce do you want, any
how" queried Mr.. Bradley, ignoring the
question with which the burglar had ended.
" For one matter to assure you that I am
perfectly well posted in all your affairs,
which will take but few words. You are
by present occupation, Mr.. Bradley, treas
urer of the Nonontauk wooden mills"
THAT'S correct enough
out to the mills with $4,000 in greenbacks
done up in a bundle, like groceries, for pay
day"
Yes, we pay our employees monthly"
You need not be at the trouble of an
swering; I will go right through the facts
of the case. AS l say, the Both of every
month you go out to the mills. Well, the
Both came yesterday but you missed the
Lowell express, which you usually take,
and you had to postpone your trip until to-
day So you took the local train instead,
and you came out to Cotton Hill, bring
ing the money home with you. Then
in the evening, when sitting at supper, you
told your wife that you disliked carrying
the greenbaeks so much about, and that
YOU would leave them in the house until
this afternoon, when you would call for
them on the way to the mills. Have
been correct Pr
Possibly; but must tell you that The
money is not there. 1t will be great dis
appointment to you, but | brought it into
the Office this morning"
Well, well, | will try to bear it. But
listen to the rest OF my tale. After supper
you appeared TO hide those greenbacks in
- some place up stairs, and this afternoon, for
some reason, when you started for Boston
with your wife, you did not have the bun
die which you brought home with you yes
terday. How am to understand that? n
by the use of your reasoning faculty,
There are many ways of carrying money"
MY reasoning faculty is Just what
troubles me; the more | reason the more
am convinced that the money is here in
this house. OF course you will never adj
NIT it without some inducement, and
therefore have plan to propose for the adj
iustment of this whole matter-on basis
81 I I rr-i1l mn pfa of
it. NY name is Smith, by the way
Very well, Mr.. Smith. l cannot say
that am glad TO make your acquaintance.
! must say that our present relation seems
to me very unconventional"
" Unconventional, Mr.. Bradley, yes, but
net without its convenienees. Just see.
Though burglar in the house, am able
by means of the latest refinement of civil
lied invention, to converse with the very
owner himself, who knows all its hooks
and corners. And you, Also the owner, are
present at an occurrence of great import
ance TO yourself instead of remaining ig-
norant until all is over, as usually hap
pens
8. Oh, well, if you talk in that way. Pray
how and when did you enter my house
Mr.. Smith, and how am | to know that you
are. in feet, talking with me from there
and not from some other point on the line?'
/ entered at the rear Kitchen window as
soon as saw you and Mrs. Bradley star
down the hill. You can easily make SURF
of my presence here by asking me somt
questions about the ROOM
Very well. There is a small picture
over the telephone. Can you describe it 2?
u can. 1t is an etching-three mice in {
trap. It's by Raion.'
You are undoubtedly on the premises
Yes there's no question but that you are il
nv west sitting-room on Cotton Hill. AnC
being sure of the impossibility of Interrupt
fion, since the nearest telegraph station j!
five miles distant you have feeling tina
Won can take matters comfortably. Do
succeed in grasping your view of the situa
ton p
dmirably-perfectly.n
"You say also that you are in communi
ration. by means of the latest refinement o
civilization, as you express it, with tht
owner of this house, and that l, the owner
am as GOOD as present at an affair of grea
Importance to myself-though l don't SCI
vet where the benefit to me comes in. Blu
Won have some plan to propose about that.
lust so. 1t delights me to hear yol
take the matter SO sensibly. The truth is
fhe Arrangement that l have in view vii
he ouite as much for your advantage as 70
mine. The money that IS here
mo. no: you are mistaken"
iOb, of course, you must protest, Nh
Bradley, but know that it is here, and
Allow me-we cannot both talk at once
and pay the rent for this telephone. It i
true, indeed, that did not bring IN bun
die this morning. but carried in the green
hacks quite the same in one Of my boot
Ices. and they are in the safe now, so tina
if the plan you have TO reveal relates t
them, feel quite sure that it viii be disap
we shall see-we shall see. Did l IN
understand yoa to say that you carried tn
greenbacks to the city in one of your boot
Eyes. sir, in one of my bootlegs-the lei
one"
81 don't want to be inquisitiVe, but Wha
;Eiged boots do you Wear9
items"